Author Archives: Wendy Andrews Photography

I had the honor to photograph 39 incredible women, unique in their personalities, occupations, size, hair color and cancer treatments. I needed to photograph them so they could see themselves as the world sees them – beautiful and strong.

Each one of these women have been told those words we’ve all grown to fear – “you have cancer”. They dealt with their diagnosis, a variety of treatment, then decided to join Team Phoenix – a 14 week training program to complete their first triathlon. Crazy…especially for some of these women who had never swam before the training. The swim part of the triathlon was 1/4 mile in open water (in a lake, with seaweed, and fish, and many other swimmers). A 15 mile bike ride and 3.5 mile run/walk follow the swim.

I was a Team Phoenix 2017 Athlete. (You’re called ‘athlete’ on day 1 of training…sure beats being labelled ‘cancer survivor’). I watched so many women work really hard during practices – as I tried really hard to keep up with some of the others. Once in the water and my nerves calmed down a bit on race day, I finished the swim, biked, ran and crossed the finish line. I was able to watch as some of my fellow teammates finished, some in tears, others jumping for joy. They did it! They set out a crazy goal for themselves and completed it.

I saw such beauty in their smiles, in their joy, laughter & tears…their new-found confidence and strength. Their Amazing Strength. I knew I had to create their portrait. A portrait of their strength. So they will exist in a photograph for all time.

That’s how my ‘Amazing Strength – an after cancer experience’ personal project began. I asked for 25 volunteers from Team Phoenix – looking for all shapes and sizes. I was slightly blown away when I received almost 50 responses. I scheduled the first 25 women for a consultation and session. The consultation is part of my usual photography workflow. I want to know their story – I want to know who they are, I’m always thinking how I can make their image, their portrait unique, authentic, honest and different than anyone else’s image.

As I spoke with the first few women I realized that this group, Team Phoenix, has had an incredible impact on all of us. We were able to be our regular self – not someone who has cancer. We were able to get to know each other as we swam, biked and ran/walked in practice. For many of us, we had no idea what type of cancer our fellow athletes had. It didn’t matter. Cancer united us and allowed us to sign up for this life-changing experience. Cancer didn’t otherwise define us.

When we crossed the finish line of the triathlon, we became Team Phoenix Alumni. Although the entry fee is steep (cancer diagnosis required), it’s an association I’m honored to be part of. I realized this group of women will step up, step in and stand by your side when you need support, a good laugh, a shoulder to lean on or someone to ride their bike with you.

One of our Team Phoenix 2017 sisters passed away from cancer before I could take her photograph for this project. As my heart broke, my sense of urgency to photograph as many women as I could moved me into action. Sometimes the energy of the universe puts people in your path at the right time. My TP (Team Phoenix) sister, Jill, stepped in to organize the remaining consultations and photo sessions. In a true testament to the TP attitude, each of the athletes showed up for their session…in the Wisconsin winter months (wind, rain, below freezing temperatures, wind, snow, cold, wind)…with unbreakable spirit.

I am honored with their trust in me to photograph them. For some, swim/bike/run was probably easier than sitting in front of a camera for a photo session.

So, you may be wondering about the cancer part…
Sometimes even a photograph doesn’t tell the entire story. This group of powerful women have overcome so many obstacles. They’ve heard the dreaded words “you have cancer”. They have dealt with surgeries leaving scars in place, always a reminder. They’ve faced treatment in many forms often living with lasting side effects. They are mothers, daughters, sisters, co-workers, your boss and your best friend. They have also crossed the finish line of a triathlon. They define Amazing Strength.

To those we’ve lost
& to those we’ve found
Amazing Strength – an after cancer experience

Amazing Strength – an after cancer experience

Team Phoenix reaffirmed who I was as a woman.

Amazing Strength – an after cancer experience

Cancer is life-changing in a bad way…Team Phoenix is life-changing in a good way.

Amazing Strength – an after cancer experience

I learned I will never give up on myself.

Amazing Strength – an after cancer experience

I sometimes hate talking about cancer.

Amazing Strength – an after cancer experience

I’ve taken ownership of my health & body to keep myself alive.

Amazing Strength – an after cancer experience

Cancer didn’t have control of me anymore.

Amazing Strength – an after cancer experience

Crossing the finish line I was ’emotionally restored’.

Amazing Strength – an after cancer experience

I am Strong Proud Alive & Redefined.

Amazing Strength – an after cancer experience

It’s a sisterhood – they get me & I get them.

Amazing Strength – an after cancer experience

There are silver linings in everything.

Amazing Strength – an after cancer experience

Every day is a gift.

Amazing Strength – an after cancer experience

Before TP I was too focused on dying to really LIVE.

Amazing Strength – an after cancer experience

Team Phoenix allowed me to love myself.

Amazing Strength – an after cancer experience

I’m optimistic about everything.

Amazing Strength – an after cancer experience

I found my inner athlete.

Amazing Strength – an after cancer experience

I look at the bright side.

Amazing Strength – an after cancer experience

I’m getting my competitive nature back.

Amazing Strength – an after cancer experience

Team Phoenix sounded way too badass to NOT do it.

Amazing Strength – an after cancer experience

Team Phoenix was good for my whole family.

Amazing Strength – an after cancer experience

Best place I’ve been in years & years.

Amazing Strength – an after cancer experience

I love this new ME – a big awakening.

Amazing Strength – an after cancer experience

Gave me pride to do the program & to finish it.

Amazing Strength – an after cancer experience

We pushed each other to be our best.

Amazing Strength – an after cancer experience

I wanted to show my kids that things happen in life–
pick yourself up and do positive things.

Amazing Strength – an after cancer experience

Team Phoenix made me a better leader at work.

Amazing Strength – an after cancer experience

Team Phoenix is a cancer-free zone.

Amazing Strength – an after cancer experience

I’m a resilient fighter.

Amazing Strength – an after cancer experience

I find joy on my bike.

Amazing Strength – an after cancer experience

Team Phoenix allowed me to love myself.

Amazing Strength-an after cancer experience

I felt I could start my life on a new page.

Amazing Strength an after cancer experience

We built a connection, a trust.

Amazing Strength – an after cancer experience

I felt alive again.

Amazing Strength – an after cancer experience

I found a strength I didn’t know I had.

Amazing Strength – an after cancer experience

I’m proud of myself.

Amazing Strength an after cancer experience

I have a new sense of what I can accomplish.

Amazing Strength – an after cancer experience

Until Team Phoenix, I was a woman with cancer waiting for bad news.

Amazing Strength – an after cancer experience

I’m optimistic about everything.

Amazing Strength – an after cancer experience

The day of the Tri, I knew it was a day of celebration.

Amazing Strength – an after cancer experience

I surpassed the barriers.

The 39 women in the black & white images are redefined by crossing the finish line of a triathlon after cancer diagnosis & treatment. Each of the women pictured has a story of courage & Amazing Strength. In their strength, I see their beauty which will exist for all time in their photograph. I’m grateful to each one of them for sharing their time, their story and their enthusiasm to be part of this project.

We all had a cancer diagnosis, cancer treatment, then signed up for a triathlon with Team Phoenix. A life-changing event that bonded women into sisters over 14 weeks of training. I was inspired by my teammates who had never swam prior to training, then swam 1/4 mile in a lake, biked 15 miles then ran/walked a 5k. Crossing the finish line was a moment like no other.

Team Phoenix was formed in 2011 by incredible people, innovative doctors who have seen the affects of cancer on women. A breast surgeon, a cancer physical therapist and a research oncologist. Together, they convinced a handful of women to be Team Phoenix. Since then, the team has grown each year. There are 60 athletes who will begin their training for TP2019 and take part in their triathlon in July. Strong Proud Alive & Redefined #SPAR.

This is a recap of the beautiful energy during the reveal & gallery opening:

Celebrating 39 women and their Amazing Strength in photographs. Redefined by crossing the finish line of a triathlon after cancer diagnosis & treatment.

I’ve been doing a lot of celebrating recently…my son’s graduation from Army Logistics University, a visually-stimulating visit to Cuba, and a clean mammogram this week. In the middle of all that, I’m hanging photographs of incredible women in a gallery exhibit. Amazing Strength is my personal photography project showing each woman her courage, strength and beauty which will exist in a photograph for all time.
They are images of your girlfriend, your wife, your sister, your boss.

I watched my teammates train for 14 weeks. Some crossed the finish line laughing and elated, others sobbing in tears. Strong, Proud, Alive & Redefined. I saw their strength and in their strength, I saw their beauty. I needed to photograph these women! Many had never swam before, others hadn’t been on a bicycle in 30 years, yet they signed up to do a triathlon. Cancer didn’t stop these women – it made them more determined to live.

Warm air, sunshine, swimming pool…what could be better than a summer photo session?

The inspiration was an outdoor light box – a tent-like structure with billowy sheer white curtains filtering out the sunshine above a kids’ pool partially filled with water and two sisters posed beautifully in it….and photographs!

Flexibility & a sense of humor are key when the wind was blowing, the temperature an unusual cool day for July and…a very gray, hazy sky.

The sisters who came to model were wonderful in their attitude. Even as I boiled water and poured it into the pool, their teeth chattered yet they kept their spirits up!

Before images are beautiful young women.

After professional hair & make up artistry they are ready for the photo session.

Beautiful sisters!

What could be better than warm air, sunshine, a swimming pool for a summer photo session?

48 hours before I sat in front of my cell phone and did the Facebook Live broadcast (below), I had also been an Uber virgin and I had never walked down Skid Row in downtown Los Angeles at night. Having navigated the streets of LA (was booked at an AirBnb just off Skid Row) and managed to get to LAX on time via Uber, I decided Facebook live was next on my list.​

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As a Portrait photographer, I had been presenting beautiful Folio Boxes with matted prints to my clients at their Reveal session – each client falling in love with their images, purchasing them and taking them home that day in the Folio Box. I deliver their custom enlargements and wall art as soon as their order arrives.

Then, I fell in love! The video shows me unwrapping my newest product – a Reveal Box, hand-made in Italy! The Reveal Box has a clear, picture frame style lid so the matted images can remain in the box AND the box can stand upright on a shelf as a framed display of the top image! (the old folio box was a satin covered box).

The Facebook Live video was for Portrait Photographers to see the details of this new product available only to professional photographers. I’m so excited to offer this product to my Portrait clients – it’s a stunning presentation of the gorgeous images we create together and a place for their legacy portraits to live. A gift for the next generation.

#WendysFlowerWall is my recent project where women are given an opportunity to select one word to follow “I am…” Women volunteer – some after a yoga class, some on a Saturday morning, most without advanced notice, therefore, no make-up application or hair adjustment.

I’m grateful to the women who feel confident in their skin to be in front of my camera, knowing their image would be used on social media and on the internet.

My Flower Wall project started when the winter darkness dragged on and I anticipated spring. I decided to create my own spring with colors out of my comfort zone….and #Wendy’sFlowerWall was born.

It’s my mission to help women see their beauty and their strength through Portraits. Sadly, so many women feel they aren’t good enough, skinny enough, pick-something-enough to have portraits of themselves done.

The thing is, a professional portrait of you today will out-last you. It’s a gift for your children, for your parents, for your girlfriends, for your sisters….for eternity.

As each photo session unfolds, there are often several memorable moments. A moment might be memorable to me when I see that instant where a client relaxes their tension and opens their soul and trusts me with it. I’m completely grateful for their trust. I can see it through my camera. Sometimes I get emotional after I’ve seen & taken the shot, where I have to turn away to preserve the rest of the session! (Can’t let clients get all weepy!)

I can look at the images afterward and I know exactly when it happened. I may get a handful of those & they’re always my client’s favorites.

A memorable moment with this sister’s session touched me when, as I was setting up one woman in her first pose, she shouted “mom’s ring!”, and the other pried it from her right hand and handed it over. They alternated wearing their mother’s wedding ring during the session, channeling their mom’s energy, reinforcing the sister-bond even more strongly.

The memorable moments? During their Portrait Reveal, tears filled their eyes as they saw those moments of themselves. As independent, strong, beautiful women and as sisters with an incredible connection and love. That love will now exist in photographs for all time.

A beautiful, young couple. In love and waiting for the arrival of their first child.
It was an honor to get to know them during their Maternity Portrait session.
They enjoy the outdoors and nature and were hoping to have their portraits
in the woods.

We were fortunate with a peek of sunshine on the day, it made the below freezing temperatures seem warmer, at least.

At their Image Reveal last night, they were excited to see the photographs
and relieved they didn’t look as cold in the images as we were while taking the photos.

Memories preserved for a life-time. She will never be eight months pregnant
with her first child again, except in her Maternity Portraits.